Hyderabad: The Nampally Court on Tuesday took a serious view of Amoda Publications managing director and owner of Andhra Jyothi Vemuri Radhakrishna not attending the hearing in connection with a defamation case filed against him by Mangalagiri MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy.

Radhakrishna's counsel told the court that his client could not attend the hearing as he was busy covering the winter session of the assemblies of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The Court sought to know from the lawyer as to what the connection between the Assembly session and Radhakrishna not attending the court was. The Judge ruled that Radhakrishna must present himself before the court on December 5. The Court issued a conditional order to Radhakrishna and six others involved in the case.

It may be recalled that The Telugu daily Andhra Jyothi had carried out several objectionable articles and news stories on Leader of the Opposition and President of the YSRCP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy when the latter had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi sometime ago to highlight the demand of special category status to Andhra Pradesh and to take up the issue of drought in the state.

Managalagiri MLA and YSRCP leader Alla Ramakrishna Reddy filed a defamation case against MD Radhakrishna, publisher Venkata Seshagiri Rao, Editor Srinivas and few others for the objectionable reports. The case is currently being heard in the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court.